Cowboys Want to Draft Dak Prescott Backup; What's Wrong with QB Will Levis?
FRISCO - What is wrong with Will Levis?
Entering the 2023 NFL draft on Thursday night, four quarterbacks were expected to go in the first round. Among them was Kentucky star quarterback Will Levis, who instead found himself sitting at the NFL Draft headquarters in Kansas City, watching his chance to go anywhere in the first round tick, tick away.
We know he eats bananas with the peels still on and we know he puts mayonnaise in his coffee. But really ... given how the league values QB prospects - and in the case of the Dallas Cowboys, who are planning to draft a Dak Prescott backup (as opposed to "heir'') this weekend ...
So ... What is wrong with Will Levis?
ESPN's Chris Mortensen says the QB has a toe problem that may or may not require surgery. And certainly an injury issue is also what keeps another QB prospect, Tennessee's Hendon Hooker, also sitting as we await Friday night's Rounds 2 and 3.
Maybe this all gets solved by the Los Angeles Rams, who will find themselves on the clock for the first time in this draft tonight. After no picks on Thursday, the Rams have three picks on Friday, with the first one coming at No. 36 overall in the second round.
Before L.A. gets a shot at finding Matthew Stafford's heir, though, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be on the clock to start the night. And according to reports, four teams have contacted the Steelers in regard to trading up to the No. 32 overall pick.
Presumably, at least some of those teams are interested in moving up to pick a quarterback like Levis, who after having the best odds to go No. 2 overall entering the NFL Draft still sits and watches the clock craw slowly.
The Cowboys' first pick in Round 2 is in the No. 58 slot. Conventional wisdom might suggest Dallas stick with its plan to get Prescott and the first-team Cowboys help for the top of the roster, leaving Day 3 for the time to take a flier on a lesser QB light. But it is instructive that Liam Coen, who was Levis' offensive coordinator in 2021 which was his best season before taking the same role with the Rams in 2022 (he's now back at Kentucky, by the way), believes Levis is a success story waiting to happen.
"Whoever gets this kid is going to get the steal of the draft," Coen told SI. "I can’t imagine him having to wait around long."
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